Mounting for vertically slidable closures



Jan. 29, 1963 J. c. NOFZIGER 3,075,256

MOUNTING FOR VERTICALLY SLIDABLE CLOSURES Filed Feb. 10, 1.961

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 Filed Feb. 10, 1961 J. c.NOFZIGER 3,075,256 MOUNTING FOR VERTICALLY SLIDABLE CLOSURES 2Sheets-She et 2 I I I" 2 iii? 6 I :15 n II II: I 1' I 1 I c:::: A g g 7I w I I I f f (3 11 4 121516. 11 I L l I 7 7 :16 Ir L 10 6/9 INVENTOR BYf V ATTORN EY nited gteeifig I kWh 3 39 5,256 Patented Jan. 29, l3

This invention relates to a mounting for Vertically slidable closuressuch as windows, panels and similar structures, and has as its primaryobject the provision of a mounting for vertically slidable closures inwhich th closure is frictionally supported and held against movementunder its inherent weight in any position within its range of travel.

Another object is to provide a sliding closure mounting in which theclosure is supported in vertical guide-ways and releasably held againstmovement in various adjusted positions by the action of serpentine orcorrugated tensioned plate springs bearing between the closure and theguide-ways, wherein the springs are so arranged as to serve the purposeof weather-strips and also serve to obviate the use of parting beadsbetween the side margins of overlying sash as commonly employed indouble hung window construction.

Another object is to provide a closure mounting of the above characterin which the springs may be readily re moved and replaced and whereinthe tension of the supporting springs may be adjusted to suit varyingrequirements.

A further object is to provide a mounting which is especially applicablefor use in assemblying double-hung vertically slidable windows and whichis of such compactness as to render it particularly adapted for use inthe equipment of doors with double hung sash.

With the foregoing objects and advantages in view together with suchother objects and advantages as may subsequently appear the invention iscarried into effect as hereinafter described and claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a double hung window embodying theinvention;

H6. 2 is a diagram in section and elevation of a fragmentary portion ofa window side-rail and its guide-way as spaced apart relative to eachother preliminary to their assemblage;

KG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the window side-rail andguide-way as assembled;

HG. 4 is a perspective view of the supporting platespring as detached;

. ,a f FIG. 5 is a view in front elevation of a WIHdOW illustrating amanner of mounting a sash, and

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings more specifically A indicates generally anupright vertically slidable window sash embodying side-rails 5-5 havingouter side faces 66 each of which has a channel 7 extendinglongitudinally throughout the length thereof. The sash A is flanked onitsside by a pair of upstanding frame members 8-8 having inner faces 99presented to the side faces 66 in proximity thereto, there being a gapll) between each side of the closure and the inner face 9 of theadjacent frame member 3 to permit vertical sliding movement of the sashA relative to the frame members 8$ in a usual manner.

Each of the frame members 6- 8 has a longitudinally extending channel 11in the inner face thereof which channel 11 is arranged opposite thechannel 7 in the adjacent side face 6 of the sash A.

The channels 7 and 11 are of differing widths with the channels 7 in theside rails of the sash wider than the channels 11 in the frame members.The channels 7 and 11 have parallel side walls and are arranged so thatthe side walls of the narrower channels 11 are spaced inwardly relativeto the side walls of the channels 7. An elongated serpentine orcorrugated plate spring 12 is mounted in each pair of the channels 7-11with the springs extending throughout the lengths of the channels 7; thespring 12 spanning the gap 10 between the side rails of the sash and theadjacent frame members to thereby serve as weather strips. The innermarginal portions of the springs 12 loosely extend into the channels 7while the outer marginal portions thereof are crowded into the channels11 with the opposite faces of adjacent corrugation thereof slidablyabutting the side walls of these channels under tension developed bycontraction of the springs in the direction of the thickness thereof.

As a means for detachably connecting the springs 12 to the sash A sothat on movement of the sash the springs will move therewith, a screw 14is engaged with each of the side rails 5 and passed through an opening15 intermediate the ends of the spring 12 contained in the channel 7 soas to hold the spring against bodily movement relative to the side rails5 yet permit of longitudinal expansion or elongation of the mountedsprings relative to the rails.

To facilitate assemblage of the springs 12 in the channels 7, the siderails have screw receiving holes is formed on one side thereof at pointstherein opposite the position to be occupied by the openings 15 in thesprings when initially positioned in the channels 7, whereby theopenings 15 may be readily aligned with the holes 16 preliminary toapplication of the screws 14.

The recited construction is subject to being assembled in several waysof which that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is an example. In this instance theframe members 8-8 are permanently placed vertically as in a windowframe. When it is desired to mount the sash A in the frame, the springs12 are initially crowded edgewise into opposed portions of the channels11 either at the lower portions thereof, or at their upper portions asshown in FIG. 5, the springs being held in place by their frictionalengagement with the side walls of the channels 11. The sash A is thenpositioned vertically between the frame members 83 with ends of thechannels 7 presented to ends of the springs 12, the sash being hereshown as positioned in the lower portion of the window frame with theupper ends of the channels 7 presented to the lower ends of the springs12. The sash is then advanced lengthwise of the springs 12 with thechannels 7 freely moving astride the projecting marginal portions of thesprings by reason of the clearance between the opposite faces of thesprings and the sides of the channels 7 afforded by the widths of thechannels 7.

On the holes 16 in the sash being thus brought in register with theopenings 15 in the springs 12 the screws 14 are set in place. The sashmay be readily removed from its frame by first adjusting it to a fullyclosed Or open position and disengaging one of the anchor screws 1 Then,by lifting or lowering the sash in an opposite direction, the anchorlessspring will remain stationary in the narrower channel 11, exposed foreasy removal. Even though the spring in the opposite side rail 7 of thesash remains anchored, the whole sash can be readily removed when theopposite spring is no longer in place.

In some instances preliminary to placing the sash be tween the framemembers one of the springs 12 may be initially positioned in the channel11 in one of the frame members so that its projecting marginal portionmay then be inserted transversely into the channel 7 on one side rail ofthe sash in positioning the latter between the frame members. The otherspring 12 is then positioned in the portion of the other channel 11extending either above or below the sash whereupon the sash is advancedto dispose the other of its channels 7 in overlying relation to saidother spring 12 and the anchoring screw is engaged therewith, as abovedescribed.

Where either or both of the f-ramemembers are free and adapted to beassembled on the sash from opposite side edges thereof, the springs 12may be set in the grooves 11, whereupon the then projecting marginalportions of the springs may be inserted transversely into the channels 7on advancing the frame members into their assembled positions adjacentthe side margins of the sash.

Irrespective of the mode of. assembling the sash in the frame memberswith the springs disposed in the channels 7-11 the springs will then beanchored in the sash by the screws 14 as before stated.

After elfecting assemblage of the sash.A,,fran1e members 8-3 and springs12-l2, the sash may be raised and lowered carrying the springs therewithwith the outer most portions of the opposed faces of the springsfrictionally engaging the opposed side walls of the channels 1111.

This frictional engagement must necessarily be such as to oppose theweight of the sash and thus serve to hold the sash against verticalmovement relative to the frames 8-8 in any position to which the sash ismoved. By varying the curvatures of the serpentine or corrugatedformation of the springs 12, which may be accomplished by bending thesprings, the magnitude of the frictional engagement of the springs maybe varied more or less as occasion may require; the springs beingreadily removable on disengaging the screws-l4 and then withdrawing themfrom the channels 7- 11, then after eifecting the requisite adjustmentthey may bereplaced as before described.

By forming the channels channels 11 clearance space is of the portion ofthe springs therein which serves the double purpose of facilitatingassembling the springs in 7 of greater width than the the channels 7 andinsuring against cramping of thesprings between the sidewalls of-thechannel 7 such as would prohibit expansion of the corrugations underpressure against the side walls of the channels 11 and thereby renderthe springs ineffectual in supporting the sash.

By the employment of a the spring 12 to the sash, mounting anddetachment of the spring may be readily effected, furthermore the springin being secured by a single fastening is free to be elongated orcontracted longitudinally as occurs on varying the curvature of itscontour as occurs when crowding the spring into the narrow channels 11.The channels Gil constitute guideways' and the outer marginal portionsof the springs 12 constitute tongues slidable therein so that whenapplied to a double hung window as shown in FIG. 1 the employment of aparting head between the sash is obviated.

While the invention has been specifically shown and described as appliedto window sash it is equally applicable in the mounting of other formsof vertically slidable closures capable of having longitudinal springreceiving channels on its side edges, and accordingly the invention isnot limited'to the exact structure shown but embraces such modificationsas come within the meaning and scope of the appended claims.

afforded on opposite sides single screw 14 in connecting I claim:

1. in a mounting for a vertically slidable closure having parallel sidefaces, a pair of upright frame members having inner sides presented toand paralleling said side faces adjacent thereto, said closure sidefaces and the inner sides of the adjacent of said frame members havingopposed longitudinal channels, the channels on said closure side facesbeing of a width slightly exceeding the width of the channels on theinner sidesof said frame members, and an elongated corrugated platespring extending longitudinally in the channel on each of said closureside faces having a corrugated outer side portion extending into thechannel in the adjacent of said frame members in longitudinally slidablefrictional engagement with said frame members at the sides of thechannel therein, and means detachably connecting said springs to saidclosure.

2. The structure called for in claim l'in which said connecting meansengages said spring only at one point in the length thereof whereby thespring is free to longitudinally elongate or contract on varying thecurvature of its corrugation.

3'. In a mounting for a vertically slidable closure ernbodying a pair ofparallel side rails with outer edges each having a longitudinal channelthereon, an upright frame member paralleling each of said side railshaving an inner face presented to the outer edge of the adjacent of saidrails contiguous thereto, said inner face having a longitudinal channelarranged opposite the channel in the adjacent side rail, a corrugatedplate spring having a corrugated inner marginal portion looselyextending longitudinally within the channel in each ofsaid side rails,means detachably connecting said springs intermediate their ends to saidside rails whereby the end portions of said springs are free to elongateor contract relative to each other, said springs having corrugated'outermarginal portions extending into the channels in said frame members,said last named channels having side walls and said springs beingarranged with the opposed corrugations thereof abutting said side wallsin longitudinally slidable frictional engagement therewith.

4. In a slidable closure mounting, a closure having opposed side faceseach having a longitudinal channel therein, a frame member adjacent eachof said side faces having a longitudinal channel extending opposite saidfirst named channel, an elongated serpentine spring having opposedcorrugated margins extending into opposed of said channels, the channelsin said side faces being of widths greater than the widths of thechannels in said firame members, and each of said channels havingparallel side walls, the margins of said springs in the channels in saidframe members being in longitudinally slidable frictional engagementwith the side walls thereof and the other margins of said springsextending into the channels in said side faces being spaced from theside walls thereof, and means removably connecting said springs to saidclosure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

4. IN A SLIDABLE CLOSURE MOUNTING, A CLOSURE HAVING OPPOSED SIDE FACES EACH HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL THEREIN, A FRAME MEMBER ADJACENT EACH OF SAID SIDE FACES HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL EXTENDING OPPOSITE SAID FIRST NAMED CHANNEL, AN ELONGATED SERPENTINE SPRING HAVING OPPOSED CORRUGATED MARGINS EXTENDING INTO OPPOSED OF SAID CHANNELS, THE CHANNELS IN SAID SIDE FACES BEING OF WIDTHS GREATER THAN THE WIDTHS OF THE CHANNELS IN SAID FRAME MEMBERS, AND EACH OF SAID CHANNELS HAVING PARALLEL SIDE WALLS, THE MARGINS OF SAID SPRINGS IN THE CHANNELS IN SAID FRAME MEMBERS BEING IN LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLE FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIDE WALLS THEREOF AND THE OTHER MARGINS OF SAID SPRINGS EXTENDING INTO THE CHANNELS IN SAID SIDE FACES BEING SPACED FROM THE SIDE WALLS THEREOF, AND MEANS REMOVABLY CONNECTING SAID SPRINGS TO SAID CLOSURE. 